Blackberry plant named ‘Chickasaw’

ABSTRACT

Description and specifications of a new and distinct blackberry variety which originated from seed produced by a hand pollinated cross of Arkansas Selection 842 (non-patented) and Arkansas Selection 1246 (non-patented) is provided. This new blackberry variety can be distinguished by its very large fruit size, high fruit yields, erect canes, late ripening, long harvest period, and good postharvest fruit characteristics.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The new and distinct variety of blackberry originated from a handpollinated cross of Arkansas Selection 842 (non-patented)×ArkansasSelection 1246 (non-patented) made in 1985 at the Arkansas AgriculturalExperiment Station Fruit Substation at Clarksville, Ark. The parentplants used in this hybridization have not been named or released andare unavailable in commerce.

Plants and fruit of this new variety differ phenotypically from itsparents. The new variety is earlier ripening and possesses larger fruitsize, better fruit firmness, greater vigor, and more erect canes thanthe parent Arkansas Selection 842, and is later ripening and moreproductive than the parent Arkansas Selection 1246. The new varietyretains larger fruit size throughout the harvest season than either ofthe parent blackberries. Although blackberries (Rubus subgenus Rubus)are highly heterogeneous and outcrossing, and most clones contain genesfrom more than one species, the new variety and its progenitor linesphenotypically exhibit characters predominately of the erect easternUnited States species, Rubus allegheniensis Porter (highbush blackberry)possibly introgressed with R. argutus Link. (tall blackberry).

The seeds resulting from this controlled hybridization were germinatedin a greenhouse in the spring of 1986 and planted in a field on theArkansas Agricultural Experiment Station in Clarksville, Ark. Theseedlings fruited during the summer of 1988 and one, designated Ark.1647, was selected for its very large fruit size, erect plant growthhabit, and good fruit quality.

During 1988, the original plant selection was propagated asexually fromroot cuttings, at the above noted location, and a test row of 20 plantswas established. Subsequently, larger test plantings have beenestablished with asexually multiplied plants at three additionallocations in Arkansas.

The new variety has been asexually multiplied annually since 1988 by theuse of root cuttings: it readily forms new plants from adventitious budson root cuttings. During all asexual multiplication, the characteristicsof the original plant have been maintained and no aberrant phenotypeshave appeared.

Test plantings over a wide geographic area in Arkansas have shown thisnew variety to be adapted to differing soil and climatic conditions.

Plants of the new variety are vigorous and prolific and rowestablishment following planting is rapid. Both primocanes andfloricanes are erect in growth habit but the new variety is not asrigidly erect as the ‘Shawnee’ (U.S. Plant Pat. No. 5,686) variety. Theplants are moderately thorny, with size and density of thorns beingsimilar to the ‘Shawnee’ (U.S. Plant Pat. No. 5,686) variety and lessthan the ‘Kiowa’ (U.S. Plant Pat. No. 9,861) variety. Plants and fruitare moderately tolerant to anthracnose [Elsinoe veneta (Burkh.)Jenkins], and plants appear immune to orange rust [(Gymnoconia nitens(Schwein.) F. Kern and H. W. Thurston.] The new variety blooms in thespring an average of 4 days earlier than the ‘Shawnee’ (U.S. Plant Pat.No. 5,686) variety.

Fruit of the new variety begins ripening 3 days later than the ‘Shawnee’(U.S. Plant Pat. No. 5,686) variety, and produces ripe fruit an averageof 3 days longer than the ‘Shawnee’ (U.S. Plant Pat. No. 5,686) variety.Average first ripening date is June 10 in central Arkansas and averagelast harvest is July 20. The harvest period is long, with ripening overnearly a 6 week period, in contrast to most blackberry varieties thatproduce for 4 to 5 weeks. Fruit yields are usually 7 to 7.5 lb/plant andare equal to or higher than the ‘Shawnee’ (U.S. Plant Pat. No. 5,686)variety (yields are 5 to 7 lb/plant) at all test locations and highproduction is more consistent across a wide geographic range than for‘Shawnee’ (U.S. Plant Pat. No. 5,686). Yields are consistent from yearto year.

The fruit is long, cylindrical and slightly flattened in shape, brightglossy black in color and very large in size (9-11 g). The fruitaverages 20% larger than the ‘Shawnee’ (U.S. Plant Pat. No. 5,686)variety, and fruit size of the new variety is maintained well throughoutthe harvest season. The fruit is moderately firm at maturity, ratingmore firm than the ‘Shawnee’ (U.S. Plant Pat. No. 5,686) and ‘Choctaw’(U.S. Plant Pat. No. 6,678) varieties, but less firm than the ‘Navaho’(U.S. Plant Pat. No. 6,679) variety. Storage ability of fresh fruit ofthe new variety is superior to both the ‘Shawnee’ (U.S. Plant Pat. No.5,686) and ‘Choctaw’ (U.S. Plant Pat. No. 6,678) varieties. The superiorstorage ability is due to the increased firmness of the fruit whichexceeds that of both the ‘Shawnee’ (U.S. Plant Pat. No. 5,686) and‘Choctaw’ (U.S. Plant Pat. No. 6,678) varieties.

The fresh fruit rates good in flavor, being superior to the ‘Shawnee’(U.S. Plant Pat. No. 5,686) variety, but less flavorful than the‘Navaho’ (U.S. Plant Pat. No. 6,679) variety. The flavor is sweet andmildly subacid, with a distinct blackberry aroma. Flavor is sweeter andmore aromatic than the ‘Shawnee’ (U.S. Plant Pat. No. 5,686) variety.The soluble solids concentration averages 9.6% which is higher than forthe ‘Shawnee’ (U.S. Plant Pat. No. 5,686) variety. Seed weight averages3.7 mg/seed (dry wt.), similar to the ‘Shawnee’ (U.S. Plant Pat. No.5,686) variety.

Fruit clusters are medium-large, cymose, and are mostly borne on theperiphery of the plant canopy, providing easy access to harvest. Flowerfertility is high and clusters are well filled.

The new variety has been named the ‘Chickasaw’ cultivar.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE PHOTOGRAPHS

The accompanying photographs show typical specimens of the fruit , leafand canes of the new variety in color as nearly true as it is reasonablypossible to make in a color illustration of this character.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE NEW VARIETY

The following is a detailed description of the botanical and pomologicalcharacteristics of the subject blackberry. Color data are presented inRoyal Horticultural Society Colour Chart designations and aresupplemented with readings from a Minolta Chroma Meter CR-200, version3.0, which measures absolute chromaticity in tristimulus values Y, x,and y as determined by the Commission Internationale de l'Eclairage (CIEYxy). Calibration was performed using a standard white plate supplied bythe manufacturer.

Where dimensions, sizes, colors and other characteristics are given, itis to be understood that such characteristics are approximations ofaverages set forth as accurately as practicable.

The descriptions reported herein are from specimens grown atClarksville, Ark. unless otherwise noted.

Plant:

Size.—Large, erect.

Growth habit.—Vigorous, prolific suckering from crowns, good suckeringfrom roots, canes erect.

Growth rate.—Primocanes reach tipping height (107 cm) 66 days afteremergence.

Productivity.—High and for duration of almost six weeks; consistent fromyear to year. Yields consistently range from 7.0 to 7.5 lb/plant,exceeding ‘Shawnee’ (U.S. Plant Pat. No. 5,686 (with yields of 5 to 7lb/plant).

Cold hardiness.—Hardy to −23° C., similar to ‘Shawnee’ (U.S. Plant Pat.No. 5,686).

Canes.—Thorned, erect. Cane diameter: base 0.98 cm, midpoint 0.93 cm,terminal 0.89 cm. Internode length: base 9.83 cm, midpoint 8.42 cm,terminal 5.56 cm. Thorn Density/30 cm: base 39, midpoint 46, terminal37. Floricane (winter cane) color: base-Yellow Green Group (146C)Y=26.55, x=0.3609, y=0.4200; midpoint-Yellow Green Group (146C) Y=26.55,x=0.3612, y=0.4225; terminus-Yellow Green Group (146B) Y=10.72,x=0.3582, y=0.3943. Primocane color: base-Yellow Green Group (144A)Y=22.76, x=0.3660, y=0.4714; midpoint-Yellow Green Group (144B) Y=36.23,x=0.3626, y=0.4641; terminus-Yellow Green Group (144B) Y=20.16,x=0.3783, y=0.4297. Date of primocane emergence; Julian 87.

Disease resistance.—Moderate to anthracnose; immune to orange rust.

Foliage:

Primocane:

Leaves.—Large. Mature compound leaf width 8.57 cm; length 10.47 cm.Leaflet: width 6.4 cm; length 8.7 cm; shape roundish to ovate withsubcordate base and acuminate to acute apex; margin serrate; lightpubescence on both abaxial and adaxial surfaces. Color: baseabaxial-Yellow Green Group (147B) Y=16.44, x=0.3400, y=0.3950;adaxial-Green Group (137A) Y=8.11, x=0.3324, y=0.3983; midpointabaxial-Yellow Green Group (147B) Y=16.99, x=0.3411, y=0.3955;adaxial-Green Group (137A) Y=7.95, x=0.3326, y=0.3994; terminalabaxial-Yellow Green Group (147B) Y=16.30, x=0.3400, y=0.3948;adaxial-Green Group (137A) Y=8.15, x=0.3329, y=0.3985.

Petioles.—Length: 6.5 cm. Color: Yellow Green Group (146B).

Petioules.—Length: 2.6 cm. Color: Yellow Green Group 146D).

Stipules.—Length: 0.6 cm. Width: 0.1 cm.

Floricane:

Leaves.—Large. Mature compound leaf width 9.6 cm; length 7.7 cm.Leaflet: width 2.7 cm; length 5.4 cm; shape ovate, with acute apex andobtuse base; margin serrate; light pubescence on both abaxial andadaxial surfaces. Number of leaflets per compound leaf: 3 occasionally5. Color: base abaxial-Green Group (137C) Y=12.97, x=0.3380, y=0.3925;adaxial Green Group (137B) Y=8.51, x=0.3335, y=0.3949; midpoint abaxialGreen Group (137C) Y=14.85, x=0.3409, y=0.3945; adaxial-Green Group(137B) Y=7.45, x=0.3328, y=0.3904; terminal adaxial-Green Group (137C)Y=14.52, x=0.3419, y=0.3953; adaxial-Green Group (137B) Y=7.61,x=0.3343, y=0.3932.

Petioles.—Length: 2.3 cm. Color: yellow Green Group (146A).

Petioules.—Length: 0.6 cm. Color: Yellow Green Group (146B).

Stipules.—Length: 0.8 cm. Width: 0.1 cm.

Flowers:

Date of bloom.—First — Julian 104; 50% — Julian 122; Last — Julian 150.

Blossom color.—White Group (155C) Y=74.82, x=0.3211, y=0.3267.

Reproductive organs.—Stamens — erect, numerous. Pistils — numerous.Pollen — normal and abundant.

Flower diameter.—3.5 cm.

Petal size.—Length: 1.5 cm. Width: 1.3 cm.

Number flowers per cluster.—5.

Number of petals per flower.—5.

Number of sepals per flower.—5.

Peduncle length.—2.6 cm.

Peduncle color.—Yellow Green Group (144A).

Cyme type.—Elongate simple cyme.

Fruit:

Maturity.—Late, 3 days after ‘Shawnee’ (U.S. Plant Pat. No. 5,686).Average first ripe date is June 10. Average period of ripening is June10 to July 20.

Size.—Very large, average 10.7 g, uniform. Diameter: Fruit at primaryposition on inflorescence: equator 2.6 cm, base pole 2.7 cm, terminalpole 2.4 cm; secondary fruit equator 2.5 cm., base pole 2.4 cm, terminalpole 2.2 cm. Length (Primary fruit) 3.08 cm.

Shape.—Long, cylindrical, and slightly flattened, uniform.

Color.—Glossy black; Black Group (202A) Y=3.06, x=0.3134, y=0.3152.

Drupelet size.—Medium, 0.54 cm.

Seed size.—Medium, 3.7 mg (dry wt.).

Soluble solids.—9.6%.

pH.—3.25 (as measured by a by pH meter on undiluted juice from a sampleof 25 fully-ripe berries).

Acidity.—1.41 g tartaric acid/100 ml.

Uses.—Fresh and processed, jellies, jams, juice, wine.

The variety: The most distinctive features of the variety are its verylarge fruit size, late ripening, high fruit yields, erect canes, longfruiting season, and good postharvest fruit characteristics.

We claim:
 1. A new and distinct variety of blackberry plant,substantially as illustrated and described, characterized by its verylarge fruit size, erect canes, late ripening, high fruit yields, longharvest period, and good postharvest fruit quality.